All-purpose table



Oct. 16, 1962 D, SCHULTZ 3,058,793

ALL-PURPOSE TABLE Filed Oct. 15, 1959 2 Shasta-Sheet. 1

INVENTOR DALE G. SCHULTZ ATTORNEYS Oct. 16, 1962 Filed Oct. 15, 1959 D. G. SCHULTZ ALL-PURPOSE TABLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR DALE 6. SCHULTZ ATTORNEY S United States Patent 3,058,793 ALL-PURPGSE TABLE Dale Gordon Schultz, Milwaukee, Wis., assiguor to Dale Gordon Designs, Inc, Milwaukee, Wis, a corporation Filed Get. 15, 1959, Ser. No. 846,581 1 Claim. (Cl. 311-3) This invention appertains to furniture and, more particularly to multiple purpose tables, so constructed and designed as to be used singly in different manners or in combination with one another to obtain diiferent designed effects and uses.

One of the primary objects of my invention is to provide a table embodying a main top, a secondary top at right angles to the main top and rigidly connected to one end thereof and functioning as a support in one position of the table, and a novel support of substantially the same width as the supplemental top carried by the other end of the main top and disposed at right angles thereto and parallel with the supplemental top, the supplemental top and the support being of the same height and of a less height than the length of the main top, the supplemental top and support functioning to efiectively hold the main top at a certain height and in a horizontal plane against tilting in all directions when the main top is being used, the support functioning alone to support and hold the table against tilting, when the supplemental top is disposed uppermost and in a horizontal plane at a greater height than when the main top is in use.

There has long been a need for an all-purpose table in the living room and other places in the home, which would be attractive and add to the beauty of the home.

It is, therefore, another prime object of my invention to provide a small table for the living room which will be attractive and simple in design and which can be used as a single unit in different positions in a room for different purposes and relative to other pieces of furniture for use as serving tables, end tables and the like or in combination as two units in different manners for use such as a cocktail table, step end tables, stool and working tables, etc.

Another salient object of my invention is to provide a table which can be placed in one position with a serving or working top at one height and in another position with a serving or working table at a less height, with the table in all positions being of a sturdy non-tilting type.

A further object of my invention is to provide an allpurpose table having a novel supporting member at one side and a supplemental table top functioning as a support in one position at the other side, the supporting member being of such a design as to slide under a lounge or chair without interfering with the feet or legs of a person when the supplemental top is being used as an individual serving table or the like.

A further important object of my invention is to provide the supporting member of such a design that when two tables are used together with the supplemental top at one height and the other table with the main top at another height, the supporting members will not interfere with one another and permit the sliding of the tables back and forth relative to one another without interference and without interfering with the feet or legs of a person sitting on the main table top, the table with the supplemental top uppermost being then useful as a work table or typewriter table or as a stepped end table.

A still further important object of my invention is to provide an all-purpose table of the above character which will be of a simple design and possess beauty and attractiveness and one that can be manufactured and placed upon the market at a reasonable cost so that average persons can purchase several or more of the tables for a living room and other places in the home.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which drawings,

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one of my all-purpose tables showing the same positioned with the supplemental table top uppermost;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view through the table taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view taken at right angles to FIGURE 2 and on the line 33 of FIGURE 2 looking in the direction of the arrows and toward the inner face of the main table top;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view showing two of the tables positioned together for use as a combined chair or stool and a working table and showing one table positioned at one height and the other table positioned at another height;

FIGURE 5 is a detailed fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 55 of FIGURE 4 looking in the direction of the arrows and showing the arrangement of the supporting members of the two tables so that the supporting members can interfit and permit the sliding of the tables relative to one another to form either a stepped end table or a chair or stool and a working table;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view showing one table positioned relative to a chair, whereby the table can be used as an individual serving table or work table;

FIGURE 7 is a side elevational view showing two of the tables positioned together with the main tops in abutting relation to form a card table or dinette arrangement;

FIGURE 8 is a side elevational view showing two of the tables with the main tops in opposite relation and the edges of the supplemental tops in abutting relation to form a cocktail or coffee table, and

FIGURE 9 is a side elevational view showing two of the units placed together with the main table tops uppermost and in abutting relation to form another type of cocktail table or the like at a lesser height than the cocktail table shown in FIGURE 8.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter T generally indicates one of my improved all-purpose tables and the same includes a main table top 10, a supplemental table top 11 and a novel support 12.

The table tops 10 and 11 are preferably formed from highly polished wood or similar material possessing an attractive and ornamental appearance so that the tops will present a pleasing and attractive appearance and thus appeal to the aesthetic test.

The table top T is of the same width as the supplemental table top 11 but is of a greater length than the top 11, for a purpose which will later appear. The top 11 is rigidly secured to the top it? by means of ornamental end brackets 13. Each bracket 13 includes right angularly extending fiat arms 14 and an arcuate bowed bight portion 15. The arms 14 can be secured to the tops and 11 in any preferred way, such as by the use of suitable wood screws. As the brackets 13 are secured to the inner faces of the tops 10 and 11 and slightly inward of the edges thereof, the brackets are normally hid from view of a casual observer.

The supporting member 12 forms an important feature of the invention and the same is preferably constructed from smooth material which is also treated to present an attractive appearance to the eye. As illustrated, the supporting member 12 can be formed from substantially solid stock of a square shape in cross sec- .tion. Each supporting member 12 includes spaced parallel legs 16 and a connecting bottom rail 17. It is to be noted that the rail 17 is joined to the legs 16 by curving portions 18 and these curved portions are of a radius to give a desired round curve, the purpose of which Will later appear. The inner ends of the legs 16 have formed thereon like angularly extending attaching arms 19. As one of the features of my invention is to pro vide a strong sturdy construction, the arms 19 are preferably welded or otherwise secured to fiat attaching plates 20. These plates, in turn, are secured to the inner face of the top 10 by suitable fastening elements, such as wood screws. When the table is in the position shown in FIGURE 1, the connection of the arms 19 with the legs 16 could possibly give a certain inherent resiliency to the supporting member 12 when weight is placed upon the top 11. In order to avoid this, strengthening struts 21 extend across the angle of the connection of the arms 19 and legs 16. The terminals of the struts 21 can be welded or otherwise fastened to the arms 19 adjacent to their outer terminals and to the legs 16, as clearly shown in FIGURE 1.

The supporting member 12 is of substantially the same width as the top 11 and is of the same height as the top 11. Thus the table can be turned to bring the main top 10 uppermost as shown in FIGURES 4 and 9 and in this position, the supplemental top 11 cooperates with the supporting member 12 to form a sturdy nontilting support for the main top 10.

As heretofore brought out, the table T can be used as a single unit for many different purposes and when used in the position shown in FIGURE 1, the supporting member 12 will eflectively support the table with the supplemental top 11 uppermost. The table in this position is of a greater height than when the table is turned as shown in FIGURE 9. With the table shown as positioned in FIGURE 1, the same can be effectively used as individual serving tables or work tables and the same can be effectively positioned relative to a lounge or chair as shown in FIGURE 6. By referring to FIG- URE 6, it can be seen that the supporting member 12 can be slid under a chair or lounge to bring the top 11 closer or further away from a person sitting on a lounge or chair. As the supporting structure is of an open construction, the same will not interfere with the feet or legs of a person. With the table positioned as shown in FIGURE 6, a person sitting in the chair can use the top 11 as a work surface or for eating purposes.

With the table positioned with the main top uppermost, the same can be used as low serving tables or end tables and the tables will suggest themselves to persons for many other uses.

As heretofore brought out, it is one of the prime objects of my invention to provide the supporting structure 12 in such a manner that tables can be used together to form different effects and uses. Thus, as shown in FIGURE 4, one table can be positioned with the top 11 uppermost and the other table positioned with the top 10 uppermost. Due to the round connecting portions 18 of the structures 12, one supporting structure will readily interfit within the supporting structure of an adjacent table. Thus one table with the supplemental top 11 uppermost can be used as a work surface and the other table with the top 10 uppermost can be used .as a chair or stool. In this position of two tables, the same forms an admirable support for a typewriter and the two tables form a combination typewriter table and stool. With the two tables positioned as shown in FIGURE 4, the tables can be slid back and forth relative to one another and the tables placed together with the two tables nested close together will form admirable stepped end tables for lounges and the like.

In FIGURE 7, I have shown two tables used together with the main tops 11 placed face to face and with the supporting members 12 lowermost. This forms a combination which can be used for dining purposes, a card table or the like. In FIGURE 8, I have shown the two tables turned around fiom FIGURE 7 with the tops 11 outermost and the inner edges of the tops 11 and the rails 17 of the supporting members or structures 12 abutting. This arrangement forms an admirable coffee or cocktail table for use in front of a lounge or the like.

In FIGURE 9, I have shown two tables placed in abutting relation with the tops 10 uppermost and the supporting structures 12 innermost. This forms an admirable low coffee or cocktail table and the tops 11 being outermost give a pleasing and attractive appearance.

Again persons will find many other uses for the tables when used alone or in combination with one another. It is to be noted, however, that there are centain basic units of grouping two tables together and these groupings are shown respectively in FIGURES 4, 7, 8 and 9.

From the foregoing description it can be seen that I have provided an all-purpose table which is functional and utilitarian in purpose but which presents a pleasing, attractive and clean appearance.

The tables function in pairs. They are intended to be smartly modern living room pieces that perform in various ways and positions, singly or together, to solve various living room problems and to simplify to a minimum the daily business of living and entertaining in the living room. Because of the smart, simple styling and warm wood tones the tables are intended to belong in a modern living room and to obviate and preclude any need for the numerous .and various mechanical devices which tend to clutter up and crowd an already crowded room and which, by the very nature of their design and material(s) do not belong.

All arrangements and utilities shown and described (and others not shown) are possible only because of one, or more, or all of the structural features of the support.

The typing arrangement (FIG. 4), employs all of the individual and unique features, no one of which is dispensable or variable.

These utilities (arrangements) might be accomplished with two dissimilar supports but I accomplish them with two identical supports. This is highly desirable from an aesthetic standpoint and also from a manufacturing point of view.

Various changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or the scope of this invention, but what I claim as new is:

An all-purpose table adapted to be used in two different positions with a top in one position at a less height than when the table is in another position comprising a main top and a supplemental top disposed at right angles to the first top and secured to the inner surface of the first top adjacent to one end thereof, and a supporting member secured to the under surface of the main top adjacent to the edge opposite to the end carrying the supplemental top, said supporting structure being of a substantially U- shape and including spaced parallel legs and a connecting end rail, the supplemental top and the supporting member being of the same height and disposed in spaced parallel relation so that when the table is positioned with the main top uppermost the supplemental top and the supporting member will function as end supports for the main top to hold the table against tilting, the table being also adapted to be positioned with the supporting member lowermost and the legs and rail parallel with a floor for engagement therewith and with the supplemental top uppermost and the main top in a vertical position, the main top being of a greater length than the length of the supplemental top.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Moore Mar. 1, 1910 Sodemann Nov. 16, 1920 Hugh Mar. 17, 1942 Lear June 5, 1945 Breese Sept. 4, 1945 Carlson Mar. 17, 1959 

